Machines for preparing flexible sheet pieces



Nov. 13, 1962 ,J. PROVINZANO 3,063,710

MACHINES FOR PREPARING FLEXIBLE SHEET PIECES Filed June a, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 13, 1962 J. PROVINZANO 3,063,710

MACHINES FOR PREPARING FLEXIBLE SHEET PIECES Filed June 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 XP-7 4 I. I 22? 163 162/ 164 F I62 1211 14; 146

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INVENTOR. JAc/r PADV/A/ZAA/O Nov. 13, 1962 J. PROVINZANO' 3,063,710

MACHINES FOR PREPARING FLEXIBLE SHEET PIECES Filed June 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 n\\\\\\\\\ F l 7 IN VEN TOR. JACK PEOV/A/ZA N0 Nov. 13, 1962 .1. PROVINZANO 3,063,710

MACHINES FOR PREPARING FLEXIBLE SHEET PIECES Filed June 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 102 1 y 15 16 53 ii M 51 L E 57 INVENTOR. F I JACK PROV/A/ZAAM State This invention relates to machines for preparing flexible sheet pieces.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described comprising die cutting means for flexible sheets of cloth, plastics, paper or metal, means for folding under portions of each die cut piece, and means for pressing the folded under portions to said piece.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described means for feeding sheet material to the die cutting means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, means to heat the pressing means.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, means to automatically coordinate the operations of the die cutting means, the folding means, the pressing means and the feeding means.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, means to fold a plurality of portions of a die cut piece of flexible sheet material simultaneously.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described provided with improved means to transport a die cut piece of cloth from the die cutting station to a folding and pressing station.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described comprising a plurality of plates, means to hold a piece of die cut cloth thereon, 'with portions of the cloth extending beyond edges of said plates, means to underfold the extending portions of said piece of cloth against undersurfaces of said plates, and means to move said plates out from between said piece and the folded under-portions thereof so that said folded under-portions will contact the underside of said piece of cloth.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a durable machine of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, sure and positive in operation and practical and eflicient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the feature of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 1 is an clevational view of the machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 2;

3,063,710 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8a is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8a-8a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. '1;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1111 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1212 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the means for moving the die cut piece of cloth from the die cutting station to the folding station and showing the same close to the folding station on its way up;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the transporting means coming down from the folding and pressing station;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of part of the folding and pressing mechanism;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1616 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a vertical, partial cross-sectional view illustrating the folding operation;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 and illustrating the pressing operation;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the cloth supporting plates, drawn inwardly and out from between the piece of cloth and its unfolded portion; and

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2020 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a machine embodying the invention.

Said machine comprises a base 11 on which is mounted a support or stand 12 having legs 13 and a horizontal lower table 14. Supported on lower table '14 by bolts 15 is an upper table 16. Table 14- has a central rectangular opening 17. Attached to the top of table 14 is a metal die 18, shown square in shape, for purpose of illustration (see FIG. 3) and disposed above opening 17 in registry therewith. Die 18 comprises a plate frame 20 which has a square insert 21 of metal softer than metal of said frame.

Supported by legs 13 is a horizontal shaft 25 which may be rotated by any motive means operatively con-- nected to a gear 26 on said shaft. On table 14 are a pair of brackets 27 to which are pivoted as at 28, levers 29. Said levers '29 have inwardly extending arms 30 connected pivotally as at 31, to a square cloth cutting die 32' at one point to click the die 32 down. At the lower ends.

of rods 36 are followers 41 resting on said cams 40. Coil tension springs 42 connect rods 36 with legs 13 to keep the followers on the cams. The cams are soarranged as to reciprocate the die 32 down to die cutting position and then up to clearing position for each rotation of the shaft 25.

At the center of shaft 25 is a cam 45. Fixed to frame 12 in any suitable manner, as by brackets 46 is guide member 47 having a vertical portion 48 from which extends top and bottom horizontal portions 49, 50. Slidable in suitable aligned vertical openings in said portions 49, 50

is a bracket 51 at the lower end of which is mounted a follower 52 resting on top of cam 45. Bracket 51 is coaxial with die plate 20. At the upper end of the bracket 51 are two pair of opposed vertical channels 53. One pair of channels is at right angles to the other. The channels are fixed to each other and are open at their inner sides. Each channel 53 has parallel flanges 53a and an outer web 53b. Fixed to the upper inner end of one flange of each channel is a vertical pin 54 projecting up through opening 17 to a height somewhat above the top of die plate 20.

When the low part of cam 45 is at the top, as shown in FIG. 1, member 51 is at its lowermost position. In such position, the upper ends of channels 53 are close to wall 14. Said channels are within the outline of opening 17, so that upon rotating shaft 25 and lifting member 51, said channels will move up through said opening and through the opening in the cutting die 32. Channels 53 are parallel to a pair of opposite sides of die plate 20, and perpendicular to another pair of opposite sides thereof.

Mounted on each channel 53 is a Z-shaped lever 55 having an upper vertical arm 56 disposed within the channel and pivoted to flanges 53a on a horizontal pivot pin 57 (see FIGS. 1, l3, l4). Extending out from the lower end of arm 56, through channel 53, is a horizontal intermediate portion 58 from the outer end of which projects downwardly an arm 59. At the lower end of each arm 59, at its inner side is a V-shaped lug 60. Coil tension springs 61 connect the levers 55 below pivots 57 with the lower ends of channels 53, to bias the arms 56 outwardly against the channels.

Fixed to the upper end of each arm 56 is a triangular plate 62. Each plate 62 has an outer edge 62a parallel to a side. of die plate 20 and inwardly converging edges 62b. In the normal position of levers 55, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the triangular plates are separated leaving spaces therebetween, and edges 62a are close to the inner surfaces of the sides of die plate 20. Hinged to the top of upper portion 49 of guide member 47, as on hinges 65, are four arms 66 carrying rollers 67 at their outer ends. Each roller 67 is in vertical alignment with one of the lugs 60. Coil tension springs 68 connect the outer ends of arms 66 with said bracket portions 49 to bias the arms downwardly. Downward movement of said arms is limited to horizontal position by suitable stops on said bracket portion 49. However, said arms may be swung upwardly by lugs 60 against tension of springs 68, when member 51 is raised by cam 45, to allow said lugs to bypass the rollers on the way up, without rotating the levers 55. Springs 61 are stronger than springs 68. Springs 68 bring the arms 66 down to horizontal positions, after the lugs 60 have by-passed the rollers 67. On the way down, the rollers 67 press the lugs 60 to rotate the upper ends of arms 56 inwardly to bring plates 62 inwardly from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 19. This occurs at the beginning of the downward movement of member 51, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

In the lowermost position of member 51, plates 62 are located just below the level of the upper side of die plate 20.

Means is provided to feed cloth from a strip or ribbon thereof onto the die plate 20 when the die cutter 32 is raised, To this end, there is attached to one side of frame 12 (left side in FIG. 1), a bracket 70. Said bracket may be attached in various vertically adjusted positions, frame 12 being provided with pair of screw openings 71 located at different vertical levels to receive screws 72 for attaching the bracket 70 to the frame. Bracket 7 swivelly supports a sleeve 73 on horizontal pintles 74. Extending through sleeve 73 is a. rod 75. Frame 12 carries a horizontal sleeve 76 swiveled. on horizontal pintles 77. Slidable through sleeve 76 is a rod 78 carrying at its inner end, ahorizontal roller 79 and a vertical roller 80. Fixed to one. side of cam 45 is a cam 81 (see FIGS. 1 and 4), curved as at 82 horizontally and curved as at 83 ver- 4 tically. 'Ihus cam 81 is substantially a quarter of a sphere. I

Rod 78 is connected to a bracket 85 thereabove by a coil tension spring 86. The lower end of rod 75 is connected to frame 12 by a coil tension spring 87. The lower end of rod 75 may be attached to rod 78 by an adjustable pivot connection 88.

Arm 75 has an offset horizontal portion supporting a pair of spaced coplanar spring leaves 91 extending toward die plate 20. Fixed to the table 14 in any suitable manner, is a plate 92 in the plane of leaves 91 and having slots 93 in which said leaves are located. Plate 92 and leaves 91 are inclined downwardly somewhat toward the top surface of the die plate 20.

Pivoted to the upper end of rod '75, as at 95, are links 96 to which are pivoted fingers 97 as at 98. Fingers 97 are connected to links 96 by light springs 99. Cloth from a ribbon thereof is gripped lightly between fingers 97 and leaves 91.

As the cam 45 rotates cam 81 will contact rollers 79 and 80 to cause rod 78 to slide through sleeve 76 and rotate about the axis of pintles 77. This action will cause rod 75 to slide in sleeve 73 and rotate about the axis of pintles 74. Such action will cause the cloth on plate 92 to be gripped between fingers97 and leaves 91 and to be fed to the right (FIG. 1), to bring a fresh portion of cloth over the die plate 20 and over the triangular plates 62. When the fingers 97 move to the left the cloth will remain in position so that the fingers can grip another length of cloth for subsequent feed to the die. Thus for each rotation of shaft 25, a fresh length of cloth is fed to the die set 32, 18 and a piece of cloth is cut.

Means is provided to hold the cut piece of cloth on the triangular plates 62 and to transport the die cut piece to the underside of table 16. To this end, table 16 is formed with a through opening 100 (FIG. 13) and with a recess 101 at its underside communicating with said through opening. Extending through opening 100 is a thin rod 102. Attached to the lower end of rod 102 is a plate 103 adapted to nest in recess 101 when the rod is raised up. On rod 102 and above table 16 are spaced collars 104, 105. Slidable on said rod and between said collars is a sleeve 106. Between sleeve 106 and collars 104, are springs 104a, 105a. On top of table 16 is a post 107. Pivoted thereto as at 108 is a lever 109, having an arm 110 pivoted to collar 106 and a second offset arm 111. Arm 111 is pivoted as at 1 12 to a vertical rod 113 passing down through holes 114, 116 in tables 14, 16. At the lower end of rod 113 is a follower 1'15 resting on cam 118 fixed to rotate with shaft 25. Cams 45, 118 are so arranged that the cut piece of cloth will be gripped between plates 62 and plate 103, and after the piece of cloth is die cut, member 51 will move up and rod 113 will move down to rotate lever 109, to raise rod 102, so that the gripped die cut piece of cloth is raised against the underside of table 16.

The piece of cloth extends beyond the outer edges 62a of triangular plates 62, and the four extending portions will hang down from said outer edges as the piece of cloth is raised.

Means is provided to fold the downhanging sides of the die cut piece of cloth inwardly against the undersides of the triangular plates 62. To this end, there is fixed to shaft 25 a cam 120 having a notch 121. On the supporting frame 12 is a sleeve 122 to slidably support a horizontal rod 123 having a follower 124 at one end contacting an edge of cam 120. Pivoted to the supporting frame 12 on a horizontal pivot 125 is a lever 126. The lower end of lever 126 is pivoted as at 127 to rod 123. Thus as cam 120 rotates, arm 123 will reciprocate to cause pivotal movement of lever 126.

Pivoted to the underside of table top 16 at one side of the table 16, as at 130 is a lever 131 in a horizontal plane. One arm 132 of lever 131 is pivoted to the upper end of lever 126. Connected to the other arm 133 of lever 131 is a connector 134. Connected to the upper end of lever 126 is a connecting rod 140 traversing the table 16. Pivoted to the other side of table 16 as on pivots 141, 142 are levers 143, 144, respectively. The inner arms of said levers 143, 144 have a pin and slot connection 145. The outer arm of lever 143 is pivoted to connecting rod 140, as at 146. Pivoted to the outer arm of lever 144 is a connector 147 aligned with and opposed to connector 134.

When follower 124 moves into the notch 121 of cam 120, lever 126 is rotated in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 7. Now looking at FIG. 2, when the upper end of lever 126 moves out, lever 131 rotates in a counterclockwise direction to move connector 33 inwardly. At the same time, connector 140 will move with the upper end of lever 126 to rotate lever 143 in a counter-clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2. Such action will cause rotation of lever 144 in a clockwise direction to move connector 147 inwardly. Thus connectors 133, 147 will move inwardly toward each other when follower 124 moves into notch 121, and will move away from each other when the follower 124 rides out of notch 121 onto the dwell portion of the cam 120. The purpose of these movements will be explained hereinafter.

On said shaft 25 is a cam 150 (FIGS. 1 and 8). Said cam 150 has a bump 151. The leading end of bump 151 lags behind the leading end of notch 121.

On support 12 is a fixed sleeve 152 slidably received in said sleeve is a horizontal rod 153. Rod 153 is on the side of shaft 25 opposite to the side of said shaft where rod 123 is located. Rod 153 carries at its inner end, a follower 154 contacting an edge of cam 150. Pivoted to said support 12, as at 155 is a lever 156. The lower end of said lever is connected by a spring 157 to said sleeve to keep the follower 154 pressed against the cam 150.

Pivoted to the underside of table 16, as at 160 (FIG. 2) is a bellcrank 161 having an arm 162 pivoted to the upper end of lever 156 as at 163. The other arm 164 of bellcrank 161 is pivoted as at 165, to an elongated rod 166 running lengthwise of the table 16 and adjacent one edge thereof. Pivoted to table 16 as at 170 is a lever 171 having an outer arm 172 pivoted as at 173 to one end of rod 166. The other arm 174 of lever 171 is connected to a connector 175 located in the longitudinal axis of the table 16.

Pivoted to table 16 as at 176, 177 are levers 178, 179 respectively. Said levers 178, 179 have inner arms interconnected by a pin and slot connection 180. The outer arm of lever 178 is pivotally connected to one end of connecting rod 166 as at 181. The outer arm of lever 179 is pivoted as at 182 to a connector 183. Connectors 175, 183 are in aligned, opposed relation and are at right angles to the connectors 133, 147.

It will now be understood that when bump 151 of cam 150 moves rod 153 outwardly, lever 156 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 8, to move the upper end of said lever inwardly, looking at FIG. 2. Such movement will cause bellcrank 161 to rotate in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2, to move connecting rod 166 to the right. Such movement of said rod 166 will cause rotation of lever 171 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) to move connector 175 inwardly.

At the same time, rod 166 will cause lever 178 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to cause lever 179 to rotate in a clockwise direction to move connector 183 inwardly. Thus connectors 175, 183 are simultaneously moved inwardly when bump 1S1 strikes follower 154, and move outwardly away from each other when the follower rides 011 the bump.

It will be noted that connectors 133, 147 will move inwardly first, followed by inward movement of connectors 175, 183. The bump 151 may be half the angular extent of notch 121. Follower 154 is engaged by bump 151 when follower 124 is half-way through notch 121.

Both sets of connectors move outwardly simultaneously.

At the undesire of table 16 are two pairs of folding and pressing mechanisms 199. One pair of mechanisms is controlled by connectors 133, 147 and one pair is contracted by connectors 175, 183. The mechanisms of each pair are similar and opposed and symmetrical to one another. One of said mechanisms will be described. Each of the mechanisms 190 comprises a bracket 191, attached to the underside of table 16. Bracket 191 comprises a bottom plate 192 having end bolt holes 193 (FIG. 15) to receive bolts 194 which attach said plate to the table 16. On plate 192 is a channel 192a having a top wall 195 and parallel side walls 196 having downwardly and inwardly inclined lower edges 197. Extending through the slot 198 formed by channel 192a is a plate 199 to the inner end of which is attached a bar 200 extending upwardly therefrom. It will be noted that plates 199 can slide in or out in slots 198 and can also tilt about the outer edges of plates 192.

One set of opposed plates 199 are connected to connectors 133, 147 by pins 201 passing through vertical holes 202 in said plates.

The bars 209 are so located, and cams 120, 150 are so arranged that when member 51 is fully raised, said bars, will move inwardly to fold the hanging ends of the cloth under plates 62, as shown in FIG. 17. After the hanging ends are so folded, and member 51 starts to descend, the upper ends of levers 55 are moved inwardly to bring the triangular plates 62 from their out positions of FIG. 3 to their in positions of FIG. 19, whereby to pull said plates out from between the top portion of the cut piece of cloth and the unfolded portions thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 18.

Means is provided to thereafter tilt the plates 199 about the outer edges of plates 192 to cause the bars 209 to press the unfolded portions of the cloth to the underside of the top portion of the cloth. To this end, there is fixed to the top of table 16, posts 210, 211, 212, 213. Pivoted to posts 210*, 211 are levers 214, 215, respectively. Said levers 214, 215 are inclined toward each other and they have outwardly extending arms loosely interpivoted to each other as at 216. Attached to the inner ends of said levers are rods 217 projecting down through openings in top plate 16 above the outer ends of plates 199. When pivot 216 moves up, rods 217, 218 move down to tilt the plates 199 to cause bars 208 to press the unfolded portions of cloth to the top portion.

Rods 217, 218 are above plates 199 which are connected to the connectors 175, 133, respectively.

Pivoted to posts 212, 213 are levers 220, 221 which are like levers 214, 215 and are interpivoted at their outer ends, as at 222. The inner ends of these levers carry rods 223, 224 which pass down through suitable openings in the table 16 for tilting the plates 199 which are connected to the connectors 147, 183, respectively.

Means is provided to rotate levers 214, 215 and levers 220, 221. To this end shaft 25 carries cams 230. Pivoted to pivots 216, and 222, are vertical rods 231 carrying followers 232 at their lower ends resting on cams 230. Springs 233 connect pivots 216, 222 to table top 16 to keep the followers 232 on the cams 230. Coil tension springs 234 may be interposed between the outer ends of plates 199 and the undersides of table 16 to urge bars 260 away from the table.

Any suitable means such as an electric heater 235 on plates 199, may be provided for heating the bars 200.

Any suitable means may be provided to remove the pressed die cut pieces after the pressing operations.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein setforth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a support, a lower table thereon, an upper table supported at a level above the lower table, said lower table having an opening, a cutter, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support, means controlled by rotation of said shaft to actuate said cutter to cut a flexible piece of sheet material, reciprocating means within the confines of the opening and movable up and down, means to locate said out piece in the path of said reciprocating means means movably mounted on the last means, to support part of the underside of the cut piece, and means slidable on the upper table to push said cut piece down against said underside support means.

2. The combination of claim 1, and means controlled by rotation of said shaft to move said reciprocating means and push means upwardly to bring said die cut piece against the underside of the upper table.

3. The combination of claim 2, in combination with a member mounted for sliding and pivotal movement at the underside of said upper table, said underside support means being spaced inwardly from an end portion of the cut piece, so that as said piece is raised, the portion of said piece extending from said underside support means will hang down when said piece is raised,v

and means controlled by rotation of said shaft to slidably move said member to underfold the hanging portion against the underside of said underside support means.

4. The combination of claim 3, means to move said underside support means relative to said reciprocating means, to withdraw said underside support means from between the underfolded portion and the top portion of said piece.

5. The combination of claim 4, -and means controlled by rotation of said shaft to pivotally move said member, to press the underfolded portion against the top portionv sheet material from a strip thereof, means to support the underside of said out piece, means to push said cut piece against said underside support means, a member having a horizontally disposed pressing surface, said pressing surface having a recess therein to receive said push means, and means to move said underside support means together with said push means with said cut piece gripped therebetween upwardly toward said member until said push means enters said recess.

' 9. The combination of claim 8, said underside support means being smaller than said cut piece, whereby an edge portion of said cut piece extends beyond an edge of said underside support means, and means to underfold said extending portion against the underside of said underside support means.

10. The combination of claim 9, in combination with means to move said underside support means out fro-m between the underfolded portion of the piece and the main portion of said piece.

11. The combination of claim 10, and means to move said underside support means away from said pressing surface and away from said underfolded piece after said support means has been moved out from between the underfolded portion and the main portion.

12. The combination of claim 11, in combination with means associated with said underfolding means, to press said portion of the underfolded piece to said main portion of said piece in contact with said pressing surface after said underside support means has been moved out from between said underfolded portion and said main portion.

13. The combination of claim 12, said underfolding,

means and associated push means comprising a member movable in one direction to underfold said extending portion and in another direction to press the underfolded portion, means to move said member in said first direction and means to cause movement of said member in said other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

